Trade, Industry & Cooperatives Committee engaged its Ministries, Departments, and Agencies last week on the proposed Expenditure Estimates for Financial Year 2023/24.

The Committee led by the Chairperson Hon. James Gakuyu sought information on whether the MDAs intend to complete existing projects before embarking on new ones as well as the possibility of the SAGAs under the Ministries collecting more Appropriations-in- Aid (A in A) to reduce the burden on the Exchequer.

The Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives & Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Mr. Simon Chelugui, and the Cabinet Secretary for Investment Trade & Industry Hon. Moses Kuria appeared before the Committee to respond to queries. The two CSs were accompanied by the Principal Secretaries for Cooperatives, MSME’s, Investment Promotion, Industry & Trade, Mr. Patrick Kiburi, Ms. Susan Mang’eni, Mr. Abubakar Hassan Abubakar Dr. Juma Mukhwana, and Mr. Alfred K’Ombundo.

The Committee noted that there was an increase of 17.5 percent in the volume of trade recorded in the year 2022 as compared to 2021. This is attributed to an increase in total exports by 17.4 percent. 

The Ministries decried inadequate funding to enable them to fund priority projects and manage their day-to-day operations.

Members urged CS Chelugui to ensure that his Ministry put priorities on value chains, align them to one agency, and find a way of being self-reliant using the resources they generate.

On the other hand, Members advised CS  Kuria to utilize the Funds they have to complete pending projects and ensure growth in exports in the next Financial Year.